Fastener



f the like. 'Ihe present application is directed to Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED `saires PATENT OFFICE 2,162,652 FASTENER' George A. Tinnerman, Rocky River, Ohio, as-

signor to Albert H. Tinnerman, Cleveland,

Ohio

OriginalA application October 12, 1937, Serial No.

168,673, now Patent No. 2,140,887, dated December 20, 1938., Divided and this application December 13, 1938, Serial No. 245,471

s claims. (C1. 24-221) rlfhis invention relates to molding constructions or similar installations in which a member is mounted in fixed relation on a cooperating supporting member and secured by spring clips, and

" a preferred form of clip fastening per se employed in such installations and is a division of prior copending application Serial Number 168,673., filed October 12, 1937, and since issued as Patent Number 2,140,887, December 20, 1938.

More particularly, this invention deals with improved constructions for fastening cooperating membersof an installation embodying substantial interengaging retainer means rigidifying and preventing displacement thereof in assembled relation together with an improved spring clip fastening device positivelysecuring themembers in an assembled relation.

A primary object of the invention is to prozo vide a spring clip fastening of this character which is designed to exert a substantial cam tightening actionl in securing the cooperating members in vassembled relation under continuously effective spring tension.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring clip fastening constructed of a Smallinexpensive strip of metal havirm bent sections on either sid-e of the'mid-portion thereof providing yieldable camming hook elements which may be rotated to applied position to fasten the members secured' under progressively increasing force in a substantial screw-tightening action.

Still another object is to :provide a one-piece clip fastening comprising a base and yieldable '35 head sections carrying substantial camming hook reference to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the same, and in which:

"F" Fig. 1 i s a fragmentary perspective of a molding as assembled with a supporting member provided with a retainer element, and showing a clip device about to be applied for-securing `themembers in assembled relation;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the clip device as rotated substantially ninety degrees to locked ,so fastening engagement securing the members;

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of Fig. 1, parts of the molding being broken away to show the assembled engagement of the molding with the retainer of the supporting member together with elements of the clip cooperating with the retainer in locking fastening position;

` Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the clip per se;

Flg. 6 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which the retainer provided' in a member to be mounted is assembled in an aperture in a cooperating supporting member to prevent displacement and relative shifting movement thereof, the spring clip means beingV shown as cooperating With the retainer to lock in position thereby positively securing the members in as-` sembled relation;

Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 'l-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the invention in which retainer means are utilized for securing an assembly comprising a member including an initially plastic part such as a rubber mat or tread, and in which the spring clip, securing such part to the supporting member, is

` applied through the opening from which a cooperating retainer` element is struck and formed; and,

of the installation illustrated in Fig. 8 showing retainer means as employed as a concealed reinforcing element for the member including the plastic -part secured to the supporting member by the spring clip.

. In general, the present invention contemplates an installation in which a member isy provided with a retainer element adapted to minimize displacement and rigidify the'assembly thereof with a cooperating member mounted thereon, and secured by spring clip devices, or the like. In the provision ofthe retainer element there is necessarily presented an opening through which se- Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 curing means, such as rotary clips, may be applied from the accessible side of the opening opposite to that on which the retainer is disposed to engage in an aligned opening in a cooperating member to positively secure the members in assembled relation. Preferably the retainer elements are provided on the inner, "concealed face of the supporting member and are so designed as Ato snugly t in cooperating openings in the member to be mounted. Thus, a retainer element serves as a means facilitating assembly of the members, prevents displacement or shifting.

movement thereof from assembled relation, and also provides an opening on the outer, exposed face of the supporting member through which rotary spring clip securing means, or the like, may be applied to fastening position and, if desired into locked fastening engagement with the retainer element such that the installation is sively as-the securing means and these installa- In contrast to such constructions, the instantinvention provides an arrangement embodying a retainer element by which the assembled members are positively heldin assembled relation without possibility ofv displacement or shifting movement such that much of the strain incident to vibration is removed from the clip devices whereby the same are not subject to loosening or removal from applied fastening position rigidly securing the members in an installation.

Referring now more particularly to thedrawing, Figs. 1-4 inclusive showthe inventionas embodied in a molding construction in which the molding member is generally designated I0, the supporting lmember 20 and the spring clip securing means 30. The supporting member 20 is provided with a retainer of any suitable outline, but

I preferably, comprises a substantially rectangular element obtained by slitting and forming an area of the supporting member out of its plane thereby providing a substantial loop 2| spaced at its longitudinal edges from the supporting` member as at 22 and presenting an opening at the outer exposed face of the supporting member 20 through which the spring clip securing means may be applied. Any desired number ofsuch retainer elements are provided in the supporting member and positioned according to the manner in which the molding extends throughout the length thereof. The molding may then be assembled to the supporting member with the retainer elements, projecting therefrom, seated in the interior of the. molding I0 between the opposed longitudinal edges of the base flanges Il, I2 thereof substantially as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A rotary spring clip 30 having preferably camming hook elements 3|, 32, depending from the l legs thereof, is then applied to the substantially rectangular openingI in the supporting member with the leading cam edges of said hook elements 3|, 32 disposed in the elongated spaces 22, intermediate the retainer 2i and base flanges Il, I2 of the molding substantially as shown in Fig. l. The fastener may then be rotated by the use of a tool such as,'for instance, a screw driver which fits into a tool receiving slot 33 provided lengthwise of the body portion 34 of the clip as hereinafter set forth. Upon rotation ofthe spring clip substantially nineix1 degrees into the position of locked fastening engagement shown in Fig. 2, the

inclined camming surfaces of the hook elements 3|, 32 of the clip engage the base flanges of the molding with progressively increasing force and thereby act as camming elements to draw the parts together in what maybe termed a screw tightening action. Preparatory to the turning operation the inclined hook elements 3|, 32V will Anecessarily seat on the retainer element in operative'position to slots 22 above described, such that when the clip is turned to its ultimate fastening position, the said hooks not only engage the base flanges of the molding to rigidly secure the same to the supportingmember, but also. if so designed, frictionally engage the adjacent straight faces of the retainer -element thereby locking the clip in applied fastening position substantially as shown in Fig. 4.

The linstallation of the molding and supporting member thus effected is a firm, rigid and lasting one and, as stated, the retainer elements provided in the supporting member for cooperative engagement with the base anges of the molding retain the same against displacement and prevent loosening or shifting of the assembly incident to vibration, jarring and strain. 'In,' this respect the spring clips securing the members in the installation are not subject to any material degree of strain and accordingly have little tendency to move or to'loosen from applied fastening position. This coupled with the fact that the clips may be locked in fasteningpositionA by frlctional engagement with the retainer element ensures a permanent installation of the members and with littlelikelihood that the same will become loose or disassociated from assembled relation. When, however, the disassembly of the ployed without departing from the teachings of essential characteristics thereof. However, it has been found that the specific form of clip shown in Fig. 5 is particularly effective and has many ad- Y vantages over other well known forms of rotary clip devices land mainly because it may be much more economically constructed from a small seci tion of strip metal of uniform width and without loss or waste of material whatsoever. Thus, as

. shown in Fig. 5, to provide4 the clip 30 comprising hook elements 3|, 32, an inexpensive strip of metal is bent back upon itself at either end of an intermediate base portion 34 in laterally offset relation thereto to provide substantially oppositely extending yieldable head elements 35, 36 disposed at the top face oi said body7 portion 34; the said yieldable head elements`35, 36 are further bent to provide leg portions 31, 3B which, due to the laterally offset relation of the head elements. aie so disposed as to contact the longitudinal edges of the body portion 34 with the hook elements 3|, 32.4 formed from the extremities of said leg portions, projecting from the underface of said body r supports the same against any torsional strain or distortion `which takes place in the turning operation and which would tend to ake the leg members inefficient in fastening on. Also.

4by reason of this construction in which the head sections 35, 36 of the clip extend along the top face of the body portion 34 and in spaced relation thereto. any undue strain which must necessarily take place due to the camming actioniof the cam surfaces of the. hook elements Il, I2, drawing the leg portions 31, n axially,v is readily .compensated for by the said yieidable head elements 3F,` 36 thereby permitting the clip to be readily seated in most effective applied position rigidly securing the superposed parts. Figs. 6 and 7 show a further embodiment of the invention in which a retainer element isutilised to provide rigid engagement of superposed members secured by a 'rotary clip and otherwise sub-- accessible member thereby preventing lateral A displacement `or relative'shifting movement of the assembled members in any direction. Thus, the retainer element 4|` carried by mem .40, is adapted to project beyond the associated wer member 43 thereby presenting elongated slots Vor spaces l2 through which the rotary clip securing means may be applied fromthe accessible side of i the installation and rotated to locked fasteninig Y engagement. It will therefore bevseen that the applicationof the clip in this embodiment otherwise is substantially similar to that described with reference to the form of the invention represented in Figs. 14 inclusive. Accordingly.

the rotary clip 3|) may be applied to the superposed assembled members Il, with the hook elements Il, $2 of the securingclipin operative position on the retainer element Il and the leading cam edges thereof disposed. in the elongated 45 spaces 42 intermediate the retainer 4i and the adjacent face of the lower member 4I. Upon' rotation of the clip to fastening position as shown in Figs. 6 and '1, the cam surfaces of the hook elements 3i, 32 clamp the superposed members lll, 43 with progressively increasing force in a' r substantial screw-tightening action. If desired, the retainer 4I may be designed for frictional engagement with the hook elements 3|, l2 of the clip member in iinal applied position as best seen in Fig; 7, thereby locking-the clip in such position against loosening or displacement incident to vibration, jarring and strain.

- Figs. 8 and 9 disclose 'another embodiment of the invention in which the retainer means struck e0 and formed from a supporting member is utilized to rigidity and anchor an installation comprising a member including an initially plastic part such as a rubber mat or tread. In this form of the invention the lsupporting member III is provided F with a retainer 5i struck and formed-therefrom by striking and forming a retainer 56 therefrom to present an opening 59' therein of such size as -to snugly receive the retainer Il vprovided in the ings or essential characteristicsA thereof.

nal plate-,like 'members united to the plastic parti at selected points. Preferably,' the; member 55` is united to the said plastic part 5l l enlarged cavity 58, Fig. 8, into which the cooperating retainer 5| of the supporting member 50 may be seated and the clip member applied and rotated to fastening position. Accordingly, in A such an installation with the supporting member 5l provided with a retainer 5| in the usual manner, the member to be secured, comprising ybase member 55 and plastic part 51 is assembled therewith, with the retainer 5I snugly received in the opening i9, from which the retainer 56 has been formed.. Thus, by means of the cooperating retainer elements Il, I6l the respective parts are held against displacement or lateral shifting movement and may be rigidly secured in an in- ='stallation as by spring clip means 3l in the manner described above with reference to the embodiment of Figs. 1-4 inclusive, and, if desired, with the retainer Si having lockingfrictional engagement with the` hook elements 3i, 32 of the clip in applied fastening position substantially as shown in Fig. 9. l

While this invention has been described in detail with specific examples such examples are illustrative only. since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may be constructed 'without departing from the teach- The present embodiment is therefore to be considered lin all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,V the scope of the invention being indicated appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes whiph come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to ,beembracedthereim what is claimed and 'desired to be secured by che Unitedsmes Leners Patent is: s

l. A spring fastener comprising a strip of' prising-a section of the strip bent back upon one y side of said base to provide yieldable head elements carrying leg members, said leg members extending to th'e opposite side of said base of the fastener and having bends providing hoolr' elements extending in opposite directions.

2. A spring fastener comprising a strip of metal bent intermediate its ends to provide a base andV spaced holding elements projecting therefrom, each said holding elements comprising a section of the strip bent backv upon one side of said base toprovide yieldable head elements,.said head .elements being bent to pro- `vide leg members extending to the opposite side of said base -of the fastener, said leg members having bends providing hook'elements extending y in opposite directions.

3. A spring fastener comprising a strip of mem beat intermediate its ends to provide a base and holding elements projecting therefrom, each 7o Y said holding element comprising a section. of the said holding elements comprising a. section of the jecting to the opposite sidethereof, said leg members having bends providing substantial hook elements extending in opposite directions.

4. A spring fastener comprising a strip of metal bent intermediate its ends to provide a base and holding elements projecting-therefrom, each into position securing superposed members having aligned openings,` said fastener comprising a strip of metal bent intermediate its ends to provide a base and holding elements projecting therefrom, each said holding elements comprising a section of the strip bent back upon one side of said base to provide head elements yieldable relative thereto and carrying leg members projecting to the opposite side of said base of the fastener, said leg members having bends providing substantial hook elements extending in opposite directions, said hooi:4 elements being spaced from said base of the fastener when normally untensioned a distance less than the combined thickness of said superposed members whereby to secure the same under continuously effective spring tension in applied fastening position.

. 6. A spring fastener designed to be rotated into position securing superposed members having aligned openings, said fastener comprising a strip of metal bent intermediate its ends to provide a base and holding elements projecting therefrom, each said holding elements comprising a. section of the strip bent back upon one side of said base to provide head elements yieldable rela.- tive thereto and carrying` leg members projecting to the opposite'side of saidV base of the fastener, said leg members having bends providing substantial hook elements extending in opposite directions, said hook elements being" spaced from said base of the fastener when normally untensioned a distance less than the combined thickness of said superposed members and being twisted at an angle to said base of the fastener to provide substantial cam surfaces designed for under progressively increasing force upon rota.-

.tion of the fastener to applied fastening position.

GEORGE A. 'I'INNERMAN- l 

